996GT3 replacement seats / How to make the car comfier
Discussion
Right,
I’m probably going to be slated and be called a big girls blouse for this but I’m old and don’t care
I have a 996GT3CS with quite a few JZM additions including KWV3 suspension. The car is mainly used as a trackday car, I’d like to use it a bit more as a road car but I find it incredibly stiff and uncomfy on the road.
I’ve asked Steve at JZM at its last service to make it a bit softer and he apparently adjusted the bump/rebound but it hasn’t really made a difference.
So I was thinking I could put a comfier aftermarket seat in (Recaro, Sparco etc). Has anyone done this and can suggest a make/model? It would have to have holes for the harness though.
Many thanks,
BJ
I’m probably going to be slated and be called a big girls blouse for this but I’m old and don’t care
I have a 996GT3CS with quite a few JZM additions including KWV3 suspension. The car is mainly used as a trackday car, I’d like to use it a bit more as a road car but I find it incredibly stiff and uncomfy on the road.
I’ve asked Steve at JZM at its last service to make it a bit softer and he apparently adjusted the bump/rebound but it hasn’t really made a difference.
So I was thinking I could put a comfier aftermarket seat in (Recaro, Sparco etc). Has anyone done this and can suggest a make/model? It would have to have holes for the harness though.
Many thanks,
BJ
For more suitability to the road I would first look at the rudimentary starting points for compliance like the ride height, tyres and tyre pressures. Then dial out some camber for better road manners, ease off the bars and go from there. Ride height in particular makes an enormous difference.
If the car is still too firm then someone like springcoil will make you some custom springs to your liking for fairly small money. The rear spring of the 96RS is fairly hefty as general road sports cars go. Note that suspension starts with spring rates and they will make far far more difference to the overall feeling of stiffness/compliance than the actual bump/rebound damper settings. I am not surprised your KW tweaking made little difference.
The car will of course be crud on circuit then. Very very difficult to get a heavy car to excel in both scenarios, only lightweights can span both roles well IME.
If the car is still too firm then someone like springcoil will make you some custom springs to your liking for fairly small money. The rear spring of the 96RS is fairly hefty as general road sports cars go. Note that suspension starts with spring rates and they will make far far more difference to the overall feeling of stiffness/compliance than the actual bump/rebound damper settings. I am not surprised your KW tweaking made little difference.
The car will of course be crud on circuit then. Very very difficult to get a heavy car to excel in both scenarios, only lightweights can span both roles well IME.
Edited by jackal on Friday 2nd August 14:48
It seems that many 996 GT3's have had fast road setups and numerous after market shock/spring combinations. Great for the track but generally OTT for the road.
My experience is that the "comfort" seats (ie Hard back recliners) and original shocks/springs give a comfortable yet highly compliant ride.
I put mine back to factory by fitting new springs, having the original shocks refurbished by Bilstien and a stock geo. Very happy with the result.
My experience is that the "comfort" seats (ie Hard back recliners) and original shocks/springs give a comfortable yet highly compliant ride.
I put mine back to factory by fitting new springs, having the original shocks refurbished by Bilstien and a stock geo. Very happy with the result.
strange as the bucket is far more comfy than a normal seat because of the padding, normal seats are quite hard to sit on, buckets are soft.
People seem to think owning chairs in a Porsche is the soft option, (it's the gay option though) imo buckets are softer to sit on.
sell it imo ;-)
My last 3 Porsche's all have buckets an I use them as for 12k PA no issues
The GT3 I did sell though, it is hard and has nothing to do with the seats, (which were lush :-0 )
People seem to think owning chairs in a Porsche is the soft option, (it's the gay option though) imo buckets are softer to sit on.
sell it imo ;-)
My last 3 Porsche's all have buckets an I use them as for 12k PA no issues
The GT3 I did sell though, it is hard and has nothing to do with the seats, (which were lush :-0 )
The man that drove a caterham all the way to Spa now wants comfort??
How about changing the drivers seat (only) and keeping the bucket to bolt back in on release. I'd start by looking at Recaros pole positions which are fitted to quite a few road cars eg Evora, Clio cup etc and available as an aftermarket figment. dan has them in his RSR. I have always found them to be very comfy.
Maybe you need a reclining bucket ie a 997 gt3 seat or similar?
Final thought- I know a guy who had his seats remade using a foam like Tempur. The Lotus seats have something similar but name passes me by.
What is it that you seek in comfort? A well padded bum will still be given a pounding by the suspension.
Basically, time for you to upgrade to a 997 gt3.1 comfort with pasm and lift system.
How about changing the drivers seat (only) and keeping the bucket to bolt back in on release. I'd start by looking at Recaros pole positions which are fitted to quite a few road cars eg Evora, Clio cup etc and available as an aftermarket figment. dan has them in his RSR. I have always found them to be very comfy.
Maybe you need a reclining bucket ie a 997 gt3 seat or similar?
Final thought- I know a guy who had his seats remade using a foam like Tempur. The Lotus seats have something similar but name passes me by.
What is it that you seek in comfort? A well padded bum will still be given a pounding by the suspension.
Basically, time for you to upgrade to a 997 gt3.1 comfort with pasm and lift system.
peshwengi said:
squirejo said:
The man that drove a caterham all the way to Spa now wants comfort??
You'd be surprised how comfortable a caterham's ride is! Mine is more comfortable than my old BMW with run flats.kingstondc5 said:
Would swapping the KW's over for Bilsten PSS10's also be a better bet or are the KW's road friendly?
As i said, fairly pointless. Just get some new springs fabricated for the KW which would be far more cost effective than changing to a whole new coilover set.I dont know what the KW rear spring rate on the 996RS is but certainly on the 993 kit it's ridiculously hard for regular road use.
Edited by jackal on Friday 2nd August 22:13
mrdemon said:
I would say never ajust pressure for comfort,
The tyre has a right pressure to perform and wear equal offering most grip and good temps.
Dropping pressure on a 180mph super car imo is not the right thing to do just because you think it's a bit bumpy !
Let's just say D that you will never get 911's .... neither technically, nor emotionally.The tyre has a right pressure to perform and wear equal offering most grip and good temps.
Dropping pressure on a 180mph super car imo is not the right thing to do just because you think it's a bit bumpy !
Personally I'd ditch the KW's, find a set of secondhand OE Bilstein dampers and have them overhauled by Bilstein UK and fit them along with a new set of OE springs. It'll make it nicer to drive and more compliant on the road. Yep, you'll find it's not quite as sharp on track, but it'll make it easier to live with on the road.
What tyres are you running on ?
What tyres are you running on ?
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